Good advice still has to fit your family
|
Hey Reader, We all know there is no shortage of homeschool advice out there. My business is built on a foundation of mentoring, giving advice. Everyone wants to know what "the best" curriculum is. The one with:
You've narrowed it down. Curriculum-smiculum...your finger hovers over the buy it now button. It may be an excellent recommendation, but it still has to meet the needs of your actual family. Advice can offer ideas, possibilities, and reassurance. It cannot fully account for your childâs needs, your familyâs rhythm, your available energy, or the reasons you chose to homeschool. That doesnât make outside advice bad. It means you need a filter. Your child is part of that filter. (Ha - thought I was going to say ask me, I can help!...I can, but it's by helping you learn what your children are saying with and without words.) Before following advice, ask:
These questions can help when youâre considering a new resource, membership, coaching program, co-op, etc... ... but theyâre just as useful when someone suggests an earlier start time, a stricter routine, more independent work, or a completely different approach. They can also confirm what's already working. The Smith family loves a detailed schedule, while your child thrives with a few dependable anchors and room to follow an interesting question. Both of these are "the best". Best for the Smith Family, Best for your family. Same doesn't equal best. There is no wrong way to homeschool. There are choices that fit particular families during particular seasons. Today, choose one piece of advice youâve been considering and take it through those three questions.
Youâre not required to accept or reject the advice by the end. Your only job is to see how well it matches the evidence you already have. If it seems promising, you can try a small version. If it doesnât solve a real problem, you can let it go. If it confirms something youâre already doing, celebrate that evidence. Youâre allowed to learn from other homeschoolers without handing them the authority to define what your homeschool should look like. Christy's Corner đ What advice sounds good in general but may not fit your family right now? Or what choice are you more confident keeping after looking at your familyâs evidence? Happy Hive Subscriber Sarah recently sent me this: This is all a good reminder to go with what works for us! We have been finding our rhythm at home lately, with mornings turning into free play and then a different pace for our afternoons. I am proud of myself for resisting jumping at every new opportunity that arises or could arise. What we are doing is working and we do not need to do more. |